The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday described as despicable the altercation between the State Security Service and officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday.

The NBA president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), has consequently called for disciplinary measures against officers involved in the shameful act.

He said this in reaction to the recent faceoff between officials of the sister agencies over custody of the suspended governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele.

Describing the situation as “brazen disrespect for the judiciary”, Mr Maikyau called on the agencies to take disciplinary actions against officers involved.

“The NBA has particularly denounced the DSS for its peculiar part in the disgraceful and unlawful conduct, considering the fact that the Court had earlier ordered that the suspended CBN governor be kept in a Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions,” he said. 

While admitting the importance of the federal agencies, the NBA president said the “unethical” action could pave the way for chaos and anarchy. 

“While it is difficult not to hold the leadership of the two federal government agencies directly responsible for the shameful and disgraceful conduct of the personnel, the NBA calls on the two agencies to take immediate disciplinary measures against the officers involved in this disgraceful conduct,” he said. 

In addition to this disciplinary measure, Mr Maikyau also called for a complete overhaul of the institutions and a total reorientation of the personnel to achieve professionalism and ensure synergy in the discharge of their respective constitutional responsibilities.

He said the NBA remained committed to promoting and protecting the principles of the rule of law and due process within a safe and secure Nigeria.

There was pandemonium at the court’s premises following the SSS’ attempt to arrest the former CBN governor. 

The environment of the court was filled with armed men of the SSS, who were seen waiting with guns at the entrance to the courtroom where the defendant was arraigned.

Meanwhile, when a top official of the Nigerian Correctional Centre Attempted to take the defendant into the custody of the correctional service as ordered by the court, officials of the SSS resisted the move.

Officials of the SSS were seen pushing him off and ordering all journalists to move out of the vicinity while brandishing their guns.

(NAN)